Ruben Amorim's side will travel to Liverpool this weekend to face the Premier League champions at Anfield.
Steven Railston
Steven Railston
Ruben Amorim looks on.(Image: 2025 Getty Images)
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Manchester United might have dropped a hint on who will start against Liverpool this weekend.
The Sky Sports cameras were invited into Carrington on Thursday and Ruben Amorim had granted additional time off for the players who had been travelling for international duty or trained throughout the break
Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro, Matheus Cunha and Amad were among the players to miss full training, albeit club sources confirmed some of the absentees completed recovery work.
Casemiro was absent from training because he played 90 minutes in away friendlies for Brazil against South Korea and Japan during the break. Brazil manager Carlo Ancelotti will not be on Amorim's Christmas card list.
Casemiro would have been a nailed-on starter against Liverpool, but his workload during the break raises questions over how ready he will be to start.
It seems unlikely that Amorim will start the 33-year-old against Liverpool, given he has trekked halfway around the world to Asia and played the entirety of both friendly matches.
That means Manuel Ugarte will be under consideration to start at Anfield. Ugarte was not included in the Uruguay squad for the international break and will be fresh compared to Casemiro.
Ugarte was also a surprise starter against Manchester City when domestic football resumed following the September international break. He had last been seen on a pitch in the defeat to Grimsby Town.
Casemiro was named on the bench against City and Ugarte performed well in the first half, although he didn't cover himself in glory when he made his next start against Brentford.
Ugarte was expected to be a big winner from Amorim's appointment because he had thrived when they worked together at Sporting Lisbon, however, he has been unable to earn a consistent starting role.
It did not reflect well on Ugarte that United looked at midfielders of his ilk in the summer transfer window.
Ugarte was signed for €50million (£42.3m), with a further €10m (£8.5m) in add-ons, in the summer of 2024, and United have already conceded they need a new signing in the same mould.
Fernandes and Ugarte are the most likely midfield partnership at Anfield. Ugarte does not inspire confidence, but his performance at Anfield in January should provide some encouragement ahead of Sunday's clash.
Ugarte started alongside Kobbie Mainoo in the 2-2 draw against Liverpool at the beginning of the year. The pair worked brilliantly together and Ugarte looked like the player United thought they were signing.
Perhaps another start at Anfield will spark another improved performance from Ugarte.